Track for toy autos

ABSTRACT

A track for toy autos comprising pivotally linked track pieces each in alternate underlapped and overlapped supporting relationship at its ends with adjacent track pieces. The lapped portions include pivot means permitting articulated adjustment of each piece to provide track curves of various radii. Sidewalls of each piece confine the toy auto on the track. The traction surface of each piece includes beveled areas for an uninterrupted continuous traction surface for the track.

United States Patent 1191 Warr 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [54] TRACK FOR TOY AUTOS835,810 11/1906 Collins 138/120 [76] Inventor: J sep P. waif, 1810 N-Park e" 1,772,547 8/1930 Keese et al. 138/120 Eugene, Oreg. PrimaryExaminer-Gerald M. Forlenza Flled: s 1972 Assistant ExaminerRichard A.Blertsch [21] Appl 236,037 Attorney-James D. Givnan, Jr.

[5 2] U.S. Cl. 238/10 E, 104/53, 138/120, [57] ABSTRACT I A63 A trackfor toy autos comprising pivotally linked track [51] Int. C g 2 /0pieces each in alternate underlapped and overlapped [58} Field of Search238/10 R 10 E 10 F- supporting relationship at its ends with ad acenttrack 104/53 3 138/120 pieces. The lapped portions include pivot meanspermitting articulated adjustment of each piece to provide [56]References track curves of various radii. Sidewalls of each piece UNITEDSTATES PATENTS confine the toy auto on the track. The traction surface1,252,616 1/1918 Reif 46/43 of each piece includes beveled areas for anuninter- 41 5 11/1339 B us 193/6 rupted continuous traction surfaceforthe track. 1,118,077 11/1914 Torseth 238/10 R 1,931,606 10/1933 Ewen,.Ir. 238/10 E I 2 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a segmented track for toyautos down which the same may coast through a wide variety of turns andinclines permitted by track structure.

While various tracks for the coasting of toy autos are in the prior artthey, for the most part, do not permit a wide variety oftrackconfigurations and lengths. Prior art-track segments are, at best, madeof deformable material with preformed curved and straight sections.Track comprised of such sections by reason of its weight requiressupport throughout its assembled length thus limiting its use to asupporting floor surface or large table.

Well known in the prior art are other trackways for toy autos formed incontinuous elongate flexible strips which do not lend themselves toshaping into various configurations and thus are limited in their use tostraight inclines.

Other toy auto tracks I am aware of include preformed curved sectionswhich may or may not be banked and are of a complex nature as regardstheir interfitting end portions. Accordingly, the cost of manufacture,durability and use are adversely affected.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION The instant track structure embodyingthe present invention comprises a multitude of track pieceslinked in amanner permitting a wide variety of track configurations to be formed.

The track pieces, preferably of a high impact type, resinous plastic,are readily linked with one another by the child to provide the tracklength and shape desired. N intricate assembly effort or tools arerequired for such assembly thus permitting the track to be set up anddismantled quickly each time the child desires to use same thusobviating use of a special supporting board or other surface.

The track pieces partially overlie one another to provide a degree oflinear rigidity to permit unsupported lengths of linked pieces to extendsubstantial distances without requiring support. The child mayaccordingly configure the track structure to provide curved and spiralsegments of various radii and differing inclination with support for theelevated segments being required only at widely spaced intervals.Inclusive with the track structure are transversely attachable clipsenabling convenient resting of the track segments on any avail ableraised surfaces.

The track pieces are of uniform size and shape with each includinginterengageable means for pivotally linking the pieces to one another.As earlier noted, the joined pieces partially overlie one another toprovide coacting planar surfaces for joint supporting thereof. Themeans, pivotally attaching the pieces, retain same in closely overlyingsurface contact with one another. Accordingly, linear rigidity of thetrack structure is provided for with supports for the track beingrequired only at widely spaced intervals. 7

With continuing attention to the pivot means interengaging each of thetrack pieces the same permits a wide range of angular adjustment betweenadjacent track pieces desirably between ten and fifteen degrees. Thepivot means is embodied within a snap type coupling comprising a pintleterminating is a flanged rim for temporary inserted engagement with acorrespondingly sized opening in the adjacent track piece. Upturnedsidewall portions of each piece confine the toy auto for downward travelwith said sidewalls directed inwardly and terminating intermediate thesidewalls of an adjacent piece. Each track piece has a beveled areaadjacent its lower end to provide, in effect, a continuous tractionsurface for the toy auto.

To assist in retaining the track structure in place on a raisedsupporting surface I provide means engageable with track pieces andextending transversely therebelow for resting placement on said surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the accompanying drawing,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a typical track arrangement possible with thepresent track components,

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a segment of track taken along line2-2.of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 thereof,

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of a track piece and adjacent pieces takenalong line 4--4 of FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a sectional elevational view of cooperating portions of twotrack pieces taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 taken along line 6-'-6 of FIG. 3showing details of the cooperating pivot means on adjacent track pieces,and

FIG 7 is a perspective view of a clip engageable with the trackstructure to assist in retaining same on a raised supporting surface.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With continuing reference to theaccompanying drawing wherein applied reference numerals indicate uouslength of track shaped in a typical track configuration.

The length of track 10 is of a segmented nature comprising pivotallyattached pieces 11 each being independently articulated to permit a widevariety of track configurations. With attention to a single track piece11, the same is of trapezoidal shape in plan view having parallel upperand lower edges (when part of an inclined track structure) 12 and 13.Non-parallel sidewalls at 14 extend inwardly in a converging direction.With reference to FIG. 2 it will be seen that the sidewalls 14additionally taper in a downward direction from upper to lower edges toprovide a sidewall upper edge 16 substantially coplanar with like edgesof adjacent sidewalls. The track pieces when joined accordingly have anattractive, uninterrupted appearance as viewed from the side with noundesirable sharp projections.

A web portion at 15 of each track piece provides a traction surface forthe toy autos and is provided with a beveled surface 15A contiguous withthe lower edge 13 of each piece. Said beveled surfaces provide for amore or less continuous running surface for the toy autos and avoidcausing the same to bounce as they move from one piece to another.

Referring to F IG. 6, pivot means are disclosed for articulatedengagement of adjacent trackpieces with said means additionallyproviding for surfacial, abutting engagement of said pieces. Inparticular, a pintle is indicated at 17 terminating downwardly adistance X in an enlarged rim or end 18 the latter having a curvedsurface 18A. Pintle 17 is desirably integral with the web portion of thetrack piece thus lending same to economical, high volume production. Thedepending pintle 17, located adjacent the lowermost edge 13 of the trackpiece, is located on a track piece center line for inserted engagementwith an aperture 20 adjacent the uppermost edge 12 of subjacent trackpiece. The diameter dimensions of rim 18 and cooperating opening 20 aresuch to permit a snap type coupling operation with finger pressureresulting in the corresponding surfaces of the two pieces being retainedin surface engagement. Additionally, the pivot means so provided permitmanual coupling and uncoupling of the pieces all without the aid oftools. Further, the pivot means permits a wide range of arcuatepositioning of one track piece relative to an adjacent piece. The joinedtrack pieces, regardless of their angular relationship, have planarareas in abutting contact with one another whereby the abutting surfacesare retained in a desired substantially coplanar relationship. Further,the sidewalls 14 contribute to the rigidity of each track piecereinforcing same against gravitational loads borne by unsupported tracksegments. The inherent flexibility of the material used for the trackpieces, desirably a high impact type plastic, in combination with thepivoted coupling means permits some downward deflection of such tracksegments.

With attention being directed to FIG. 1 a length of track is shownsupported at intervals by randomly placed supports S with theunsupported portions of the track inclining downwardly from a startingpoint at SP to provide a varying gradient for the track structure 11.For purposes of retaining the track in place on one of said supports aretransversely attached clips 21. Each of said clips includes a pair ofupwardly projecting walls 22 which closely confine the opposingsidewalls of a track piece 11 and have inwardly directed edges 22A tofrictionally engage the upper edges 16 of a track piece or pieces. Theclips 21 provide'a surface area which may receive a weighted article toprevent displacement from the supporting surface.

Within the scope of the present track structure the pivot means providedmay have varying degrees of clearance as for example a series of severalpieces more or less permanently interconnected with somewhat restrictedpivot means clearance with end located track pieces with greater pivotmeans clearance adapted for ready coupling and uncoupling with the endpieces of other like series of several track pieces. Accordingly, ifdesired, the track structure may be conveniently assembled and stored insections.

While I have shown but a few embodiments of the invention it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodiedstill otherwise without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the invention what is desired to be secured undera Letters Patent is:

l. A track structure inclined for the gravitational travel of toyautomobiles therealong, said track structure comprising a multitude oftrack pieces of rigid synthetic resinous material each in partial underand overlapped relationship with adjacent track pieces, each of saidtrack pieces including interengagable pivot means located on the lappedportions of the track pieces, said pivot means including a pintle forinserted downward engagement within an aperture formed within theoverlapped portion of an adjacent track piece, said pintle terminatingdownwardly in an enlarged rim, said rim being of slightly greaterdiameter than the aperture for snap type engagement therewith to retainthe lapped portions of said track pieces in surfacial contact with oneanother and permitting cantilevered lengths of joined track pieces whilepermitting pivotal motion therebetween, each of said track pieces havinginwardly directed sidewalls terminating in the direction trackinclination in inwardly spaced relationship to the outwardly disposedsidewalls of a subjacent track piece to permit pivotal adjustmentbetween two track pieces for shaping of the track structureinto curvesas desired. 2. The track structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein thetrack surface is beveled adjacent its lowermost edge to provideuninterrupted transition of a toy automobile from one track piece toanother.

t i I!

1. A track structure inclined for the gravitational travel of toyautomobiles therealong, said track structure comprising a multitude oftrack pieces of rigid synthetic resinous material each in partial underand overlapped relationship with adjacent track pieces, each of saidtrack pieces including interengagable pivot means located on the lappedportions of the track pieces, said pivot means including a pintle forinserted downward engagement within an aperture formed within theoverlapped portion of an adjacent track piece, said pintle terminatingdownwardly in an enlarged rim, said rim being of slightly greaterdiameter than the aperture for snap type engagement therewith to retainthe lapped portions of said track pieces in surfacial contact with oneanother and permitting cantilevered lengths of joined track pieces whilepermitting pivotal motion therebetween, each of said track pieces havinginwardly directed sidewalls terminating in the direction trackinclination in inwardly spaced relationship to the outwardly disposedsidewalls of a subjacent track piece to permit pivotal adjustmentbetween two track pieces for shaping of the track structure into curvesas desired.
 2. The track structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein thetrack surface is beveled adjacent its lowermost edge to provideuninterrupted transition of a toy automobile from one track piece toanotheR.